Grandmother, 57, dies after ‘trapped nerve' mistakenly blamed for her back pain and headaches
Helen Arthur, 57, first became unwell on Good Friday in April 2019, experiencing persistent back pain and visual disturbances.
6
6
6
Her GP put it down to a trapped nerve but Helen's condition didn't improve.
After developing headaches, Helen had an eye test, and her optician thought she may have suffered a minor stroke, so sent her to hospital.
A CT scan revealed a mass on Helen's brain and she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable brain tumour.
In May 2019, Helen underwent surgery to remove the tumour, followed by six months of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
But a routine monitoring scan in 2021 showed the tumour had grown back and Helen underwent another course of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Another MRI scan revealed Helen had multiple inoperable tumours and her condition deteriorated too quickly to treat.
Helen, from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, died in May 2022, three years after her initial surgery.
Her husband Brent Arthur said: "We were told Helen had a brain tumour which was a complete shock.
"The doctors said most people survive just two to three years.
"Words left me, I was speechless.
"We were told there would be a recurrence, but it took us by surprise, we thought we had more time."
It comes after the NHS launched a new immunotherapy trial to treat glioblastoma and is seeking people to take part in it - after one patient saw his disease vanish.
After Helen's first CT scan, at Prince Charles Hospital in Wales in Merthyr Tydfil, which revealed a mass, she was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.
Brent recalled getting the awful phone call from his son, revealing the devastating news in May 2019.
He said: "I wasn't feeling well so I went to bed and expected our son Benjamin and Helen to be home within a couple of hours.
6
6
"I got a call from Benjamin saying I needed to go to the hospital.
"Confused as to what could be wrong, I went.
"That was when our lives changed."
Helen's initial surgery and six months of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy were thought to have been a success.
She was monitored with quarterly scans as she continued to live an active life, and spend time with her family and her grandchildren.
In late 2021, one of these scans showed the cancer had come back.
Helen underwent another course of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy but an MRI scan in April 2022 revealed multiple inoperable tumours had developed.
Just a week later, Helen's original pathology results showed she had a one-in-three million genetic mutation, which might respond to targeted medication.
She never got to enjoy the role she was so excited for. All she ever wanted was to be a young nan, but this cruel disease robbed her of that
Brent Arthur
Sadly, by this point, Helen's condition had deteriorated, and treatment was not possible.
Brent said: "We were all shocked and devastated.
"We spent as much time together as possible, with the children and grandchildren.
"Seeing Helen decline was difficult for us all."
Helen is survived by husband Brent as well as children Emily, 35, and Benjamin, 33, and grandchildren Penny, six, Nora, four, Isaac, three, and Rhoda, one.
Brent said: "Helen lived for her family.
"She was looking forward to reducing her work hours so she could help care for our grandchildren.
"That's what hurts the most, she never got to enjoy the role she was so excited for.
"All she ever wanted was to be a young nan, but this cruel disease robbed her of that."
Push for a cure
Brent and his family have now raised more than £5,700 for Brain Tumour Research, enough to fund two days of research at one of the charity 's Centres of Excellence.
On Father's Day on June 15, Brent completed a 10,000-foot skydive in Helen's memory.
Brent said: "Our family has been robbed of a wife, mother and grandmother, and more funding is desperately needed for research.
"Without it, other families will continue to face the same heartbreak we've been going through."
Each year in the UK, around 3,200 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma, yet just 160 will survive five years or more.
What are the symptoms of glioblastoma and how soon do they show?
Glioblastomas are the most common brain tumour in adults, while also being very aggressive and deadly.
Brain Tumour Research says tumours increase pressure in the skull, causing headaches.
Symptoms to look for are:
Headaches
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of balance
Mood swings
Problems speaking
Problems with memory or concentration
Seizures
Impaired vision
The symptoms can initially be quite non-specific, meaning they could be mistaken for lots of other conditions- even stress or a hangover.
The brain controls so many different functions that symptoms can vary greatly depending on where in the brain the tumour is.
Glioblastomas are very fast growing. Once found, experts can see them double within seven weeks.
But, according to Dr Stephen Bagley, assistant professor of medicine at Penn Medicine, the first spark of glioblastoma in the brain remains something of a mystery to medical experts.
One study concluded that a glioblastoma starts growing 330 days on average - almost a year - before a diagnosis.
Another found that there are changes in immune function up to five years before a diagnosis, with markers in blood samples - but symptoms only occur three months prior.
Glioblastoma accounts for one in three primary brain tumour diagnoses, and current treatment offers little in the way of long-term hope.
Letty Greenfield, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "Helen's story is heartbreaking and all too common.
"Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain cancer with limited treatment options and a devastating prognosis.
"We are incredibly grateful to Brent and his family for honouring Helen's memory through their fundraising.
"It's support like this that helps us push for better outcomes and ultimately a cure."
6
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Weight-loss jabs could help obese people control asthma, study suggests
The drugs should be explored as a potential treatment for obese people with the respiratory condition, who are 'often resistant' to steroids, researchers said. Weight-loss jabs, also known as glucagon-like peptide1 receptor-agonists (GLP1-RAs), work by mimicing the hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. They were initially developed as a treatment for people with type 2 diabetes. A number of types of the drug are recommended to help tackle obesity on the NHS, including semaglutide, or Wegovy, and tirzepatide, or Mounjaro. Previous studies have suggested the drugs may slash the risk of illnesses like dementia and stroke, with an international team of experts exploring their potential impact on obese people with asthma. Professor David Price, University of Aberdeen chair in primary care respiratory medicine, said: 'People with obesity and asthma are unique in that they are often resistant to steroid treatments. 'We know that GLP1s work on inflammatory responses in the airways in a different way to traditionally used steroids.' For the study, published in Advances in Therapy, researchers analysed the records of 10,111 people on GLP1-RAs and 50,555 people who were not on the drugs. After a follow-up period, the team found that those taking weight-loss jabs lost more weight and had improved asthma control. Researchers said the findings suggest medics 'should pay attention to the relationship between GLP-1 RA and the risk of respiratory diseases'. Prof Price added: 'We found compelling evidence that GLP1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms. 'In addition, it is important to note that the benefits to asthma symptoms occurred despite fairly modest weight loss of around 0.9kg over the course of the year. 'Our findings suggest that GLP1s may have beneficial effects on asthma control for people with obesity and this should be explored further.' Prof Alan Kaplan, chairperson of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, said: 'Our findings suggest that GLP1-RAs have benefits on asthma control in people with obesity, and this information should contribute to the discussions around the decision to use these drugs.' Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, said: 'Research has previously shown that people living with obesity who lose weight see improved control of their asthma, so it's encouraging to see this study show this is still the case when the weight loss is driven by drugs, like the new class of weight loss drugs. 'Although exercise can help people lose weight, for some people it can cause anxiety about becoming breathless or having an asthma attack, so people are stuck in a vicious cycle of not being able to lose weight and their asthma worsening. 'Therefore, where exercise hasn't worked for someone these drugs that support weight loss could offer a promising alternative. 'It's too early to say whether these drugs would be effective for people with asthma more widely. 'More research is needed to understand how these drugs actually improve asthma control. Funding for lung health research is on life support and urgent action is needed to increase investment.'
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
I'm a doctor - this one household feature is slowly harming your health
A common household feature may be unknowingly creating an unseen health risk – and it's hiding in plain sight. According to GP Dr Emily Carter, older carpets pose an unexpected health threat. 'People usually think of carpets as harmless,' said Dr Carter. 'But old carpets can be a major source of indoor pollution.' Carpets are known to trap allergens like dust mites, pet dander, pollen, mould spores, and even chemical residues from cleaning products or smoke. Over time, these build up in the fibres and can trigger or worsen health issues especially in children, the elderly, and those with asthma or allergies. The difficulty is that this build-up can occur gradually - even when older carpet is regularly vacuumed or appears clean. There are certain recurring health symptoms to be on the look out for that may indicate that your home environment could be be impacting on your health. Signs include frequent sneezing, coughing, or itchy eyes while indoors, worsening allergy or asthma symptoms. Feeling tired or headachy without clear cause is another indicator. Sudden skin irritations - especially in younger children – can also result from carpet-trapped allergens. However, the tricky part with many of these symptoms is that many may be mistaken for seasonal allergies or minor colds. Dr Carter, who is also a UK-based mother of two young children, said she had seen first-hand the health issues that can be caused by older carpets. 'I've seen it in my own family, my youngest started getting skin rashes and breathing problems that we couldn't explain,' Dr Carter said. 'After having our carpets replaced and testing air quality, the symptoms started improving.' For anyone who is concerned about whether their carpet poses a possible health risk, the British doctor recommends a simple 'sniff test' as a first line assessment. 'If a room smells musty no matter how often you clean it, that's a red flag,' Dr Carter said. 'Especially in bedrooms, where people spend hours each night, clean air matters more than we think.' For families with babies, Dr Carter also urges extra caution: 'Young children spend a lot of time crawling and playing on floors.' 'Their immune systems are still developing, so they're more likely to react to mould spores and dust mites. If you notice frequent eczema flare-ups or a child often gets congested indoors, your flooring could be part of the problem.' According to My Home Improvements, most carpets should be replaced every 7–10 years, depending on usage, cleaning habits, and exposure to pets or dampness. The UK home renovation business suggests that any carpet over a decade old is likely to be 'past its best'. 'Your carpet is like a sponge, it absorbs everything that enters your home. Over time, it collects years of grime, allergens, and chemical residues that vacuuming can't always reach,' says an expert from My Home Improvements. 'Even professional deep cleans won't remove built-up toxins that have soaked into the padding underneath. 'Replacing old flooring might not be glamorous, but it could be the biggest upgrade you make for your health.'
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Weight-loss jabs could help obese people control asthma, study suggests
The drugs should be explored as a potential treatment for obese people with the respiratory condition, who are 'often resistant' to steroids, researchers said. Weight-loss jabs, also known as glucagon-like peptide1 receptor-agonists (GLP1-RAs), work by mimicing the hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. They were initially developed as a treatment for people with type 2 diabetes. A number of types of the drug are recommended to help tackle obesity on the NHS, including semaglutide, or Wegovy, and tirzepatide, or Mounjaro. Previous studies have suggested the drugs may slash the risk of illnesses like dementia and stroke, with an international team of experts exploring their potential impact on obese people with asthma. Professor David Price, University of Aberdeen chair in primary care respiratory medicine, said: 'People with obesity and asthma are unique in that they are often resistant to steroid treatments. 'We know that GLP1s work on inflammatory responses in the airways in a different way to traditionally used steroids.' For the study, published in Advances in Therapy, researchers analysed the records of 10,111 people on GLP1-RAs and 50,555 people who were not on the drugs. After a follow-up period, the team found that those taking weight-loss jabs lost more weight and had improved asthma control. Researchers said the findings suggest medics 'should pay attention to the relationship between GLP-1 RA and the risk of respiratory diseases'. Prof Price added: 'We found compelling evidence that GLP1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms. 'In addition, it is important to note that the benefits to asthma symptoms occurred despite fairly modest weight loss of around 0.9kg over the course of the year. 'Our findings suggest that GLP1s may have beneficial effects on asthma control for people with obesity and this should be explored further.' Prof Alan Kaplan, chairperson of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, said: 'Our findings suggest that GLP1-RAs have benefits on asthma control in people with obesity, and this information should contribute to the discussions around the decision to use these drugs.' Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, said: 'Research has previously shown that people living with obesity who lose weight see improved control of their asthma, so it's encouraging to see this study show this is still the case when the weight loss is driven by drugs, like the new class of weight loss drugs. 'Although exercise can help people lose weight, for some people it can cause anxiety about becoming breathless or having an asthma attack, so people are stuck in a vicious cycle of not being able to lose weight and their asthma worsening. 'Therefore, where exercise hasn't worked for someone these drugs that support weight loss could offer a promising alternative. 'It's too early to say whether these drugs would be effective for people with asthma more widely. 'More research is needed to understand how these drugs actually improve asthma control. Funding for lung health research is on life support and urgent action is needed to increase investment.'
